Feed mechanism for threshing-machines.



E. H. KIRK.

FEED MECHANISM FOR THRESHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-16, I914.

Patented Aug. 10, 1915 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPN bo wAsmim'roN. D. C,

E. H. KIRK. FEED MECHANISM FOR THRESHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 16, 1914. 7 1,149,526, Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

COLUMBIA PLANQGRAPH (i0.I WASHINGTON. D. C.

EDWARD K K QFBELLE CENTER, onro.

FEED MECHANISM FORTHRESHING-MACHINES.

Application filed September 16, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD H. KIRK, a citizen of the'United States ofAmerica, residing at Belle Center, in the county of Logan, in the Stateof Ohio, have lnvented certain new and useful Improvements in FeedMechanisms for Threshing-Machines, whereof the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to feed mechanisms for feeding grain in shocks orbundles to the threshing cylinders of threshing machines or grainseparators.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple device for swinginginto line or breaking up for action of the threshing cylinder the grainof any shocks or bundles erroneously fed in crosswise instead oflengthwise position, whereby choking or slugging of the feed mechanismis avoided.

Figure l of the accompanying drawings represents a plan view partly insectionon line 1-1 of Fig. 2 of the feeding and threshing mechanism of agrain separatoror thresher embodying one form of this invention. Fig. 2represents a vertical section thereof on line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is aperspective View of this improvement detached from the thresher.

The same reference number's indicate corresponding parts in thedifferent figures, round numbers designating the principal elements andintermediate numbers subordinate features thereof.

In the illustrated embodiment of this invention the endless feed apron10, the band cutter 20, the swinging guard 30, the feeding cylinder 40,the retarding cylinder 50, the porcupine cylinder and the threshingcylinder 70 are shown in one form of their known relations.

A fixed shock-tilting bar 80 is disposed lengthwise of the machine overthe feeding and retarding cylinders 40 and 50 between the endless feedapronlO and the threshing cylinder 70. This bar consists of an inclinedfront portion 81 disposed immediately in rear of the delivery end of thefeed apron 10 and curved upward over the feeding cylinder 40 and astraight rear portion 82 bridging over the feeding mechanism, preferablyover both the feeding and retarding cylinders 40 and 50, at about themidlength thereof. This straight portion 82 may come between blades ofthe cylinder 40 and cylinder 50 and is preferably disposed on a slightlydownward incline. The blades Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented'Aug. 10, 1915.

Serial No. 862,079.

of the feeding cylinder 40 may if desired project above the curve 81 ofthe bar 80 and serve to pull the bundle of grain over said curved bar.This bar 80 is supported in its position by any suitable means. In theform shown the lower end of the front portion 81 is provided with anattaching plate 81 having holes 83. Clips 8% passing through said holesclamp the bar 80 to a cross bar 90 supported in the frame of themachine. Two straddling braces 85 and 86 are bolted at their upper endsto the rear end of bar 80and provided at their lower ends with attachingplates 87 and 88 whereby they are secured by means of bolts 89 orotherwise to another cross bar 95. v The cross bars 90 and 95 may becross bars already existing in some forms of threshers to which thisinvention is applicable. The rear end 82 of the bar 80 is in cooperativerelation to the threshing cylinder 70.

Injthe use of a thresher embodying this improvement, the general run ofshocks or bundles are fed in the usual manner in endwise position by theapron 10 under the band cutter 20 and swinging guard 30 to the feedingcylinder l0, thence over said cylinder and over the retarding cylinder50 to the threshing cylinder 70, in the usual 1nanner. It occasionallyhappens, however, that a bundle or shock of grain by accident orinadvertence is disposed crosswise of the feed apron 10 and in suchcase, if the thresher be not provided with the bar 80, the bundle stopsbetween the cylinders 40 and 50, wraps around the cylinder 40 andsprings the shaft of cylinder 50, causing trouble and failing to be fedthrough to the threshing cylinder 70. When, however, the machine isprovided with the bar 80, such choking or slugging of the feed mechanismis avoided. In this case a crosswise bundle on reaching the delivery endof the feed apron 10 is switched into endwise position by the bar 80 orbroken up by the joint action of said bar and the cylinders or one ofthem. A crosswise bundle delivered off the apron 10 comes in contactwith the upwardly curved portion 81 of the bar 80 immediately on leavingthe apron and is momentarily suspended thereon or rides up said curvedportion, being assisted in such upward movement by the teeth of the feedcylinder 40 when said teeth are allowed to project above said curvedportion on opposite sides thereof. Sometimes a cross bundle, beingunevenly halanced on said bar 80, will fall over end first to one sidethereof onto the teeth of the cylinder and thence be drawn into endwiseposition and so passed on over the cylinder 50 and fed to the cylinder 70. Sometimes a cross bundle will ride up over the upwardly curved part80 onto and along the straight part 82 of the bar 80 and fall endwiseover one side thereof onto the teeth of the retardingcylinder 50 and bepulled straight thereby and correctly fed to the threshing cylinder 70.Sometimes a cross bundle riding over the incline 81 onto the straightpart 82 will continue along said straight part and while inimproperposition fall over the end 82 thereof onto the cylinder 70. In such casethe bundle will encounter the forwardly moving force of the top of thethreshing cylinder and be torn to-pieces between the teeth of thecylinder 70 and the end 82' of the bar 80 before the grain reaches-thefirst row of stationary concave teeth 100 with which the teeth of thethreshing cylinder cooperate.

This device may be applied to threshing machines already in use as wellas to new machines to which it is adapted. It prevents choking ofthecylinders and acts as a slug'absorber or prevents slugging of thethreshing cylinder and avoids the loss of grain thrown over by thecylinder in slugging.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a feed mechanism for threshing machines the combination with thefeed apron and the feeding and threshing cylinders of a bar disposedbetween the feed apron and threshing cylinder and curved upward in frontof and bridging over the feeding cylinder.

2.- Ina feed mechanism for threshing machines the combination with thefeed apron and the feeding, retarding and threshing cylinders of a bardisposed between the feed apron and threshing cylinder and curved upwardin front of and bridging over the feeding and retarding cylinders.

3. In a feed mechanism for threshing machines the combination with thefeed apron and the feeding and threshing cylinders of a bar disposedbetween the feed apron and threshing cylinder, bridging over the feedingcylinder and having its rear end adjacent to the top of the threshingcylinder and in cooperative relation therewith for crushing or breakingcrosswise bundles.

4. In a feed mechanism for a threshing ma chine the combination with thefeed apron and the feeding and threshing cylinders of a bar disposedbetween the feed apron and threshing cylinder and curved upward in frontof and bridging over the feeding, cylinder and having its rear endadjacent to the top of the threshing cylinder in cooperative relationtherewith for. crushing or breaking the crosswise bundles.

5. Anattachment for a grain separator consisting of a bundlestraightener adapted for application to the feed mechanism andcomprising a graintilting bar adapted to bridge over the feedingmechanism and ha ing an upwardly curved front portion adapted to beengaged by the grain and a declining straight portion in rear of saidfront portion, said bar being provided at its opposite ends with meansof attachment to the separator.

EDWARD H. KIRK.

vVitnesses GEORGE IV. LILES, P. M. STEUART.

Gopiesofthis patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. i

